Silvretta West

Caution on very steep shady slopes in high-alpine zones. Beware daytime increase in avalanche danger.

Caution on very steep shady slopes in high-alpine zones. Beware daytime increase in avalanche danger.

Winter sports enthusiasts can often trigger small-to-medium avalanches in the old snow. Danger zones occur mostly on very steep NW/N/NE-facing slopes and are difficult to recognize. Backcountry skiing tours demand a very conscious route selection. In high-altitude ridgeline terrain, fresh snowdrifts require caution. During the course of the day, avalanche danger increases to Danger Level 2. Especialy on sun-basked steep slopes, small-to-medium wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches are possible. Backcountry tours should be launched early, and brought to an end early in the day.

On very steep shady slopes at high altitudes, unfavorable intermediate layers are often evident in the old snowpack. Where there is no wind impaxct, the uppermost layers of often soft. The old snowpack is thoroughly wet up to high altitudes. Following good nocturnal outgoing longwave radiation the melt-freeze crust is capable of bearing loads in early morning hours. During the course of the day, it softens up from east-to-south-to-west, increasingly also on shady slopes, and thereby forfeits its firmness.

Serene and brilliantly sunny weather, zero-degree level at 3000m. Little wind. Outstanding visibility. At 2000m: +5 degrees. Light to moderate W/NW winds.

Danger of dry-snow avalanches will recede. Further warming on Saturday, the zero-degree level will lie at 3300m. Danger of wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches will increase during the course of the day - significantly.